Module 3: Socio-cultural And Psychologicial Aspects of Aging

3.4: Ethno-Cultural Issues And Age-Stratified Societies

3.4.2: Gerontocracy

Some societies, known as gerontocracies, deem it proper for only elders to govern. When political power and control of economic resources is reserved for elders, becoming an elder is a coveted achievement. Note that these elders are capable, mature adults at the peak of their performance and abilities, not individuals who are becoming increasingly physically frail, forgetful or disengaged from society. These latter might still politely be called elders but are usually recognized as being different in important ways and treated differently from more vigorous elders (Barker,1997).

Whereas most youth and young adults eagerly await and embrace the ideals and activities of full adulthood and of being an elder, any further shift is often resisted, especially when this move is accompanied by reductions in respect, authority, or social standing. In small-scale, agricultural societies, for example, mature adults can stave off being seen as “too old” until physical decrepitude or social withdrawal is quite marked. As we saw explicitly in Modernization Theory, in contrast, in societies where new knowledge and constantly changing technologies are the bases of political and economic power (e.g., present day Euro-American society), older adults are vulnerable to loss of societal standing at a chronologically early age, especially if they do not have command over these important resources.

Also see: Modernization Theory (Note: This link will open in a new browser window which you can close to return here).

Development of this curriculum was funded by University of California Academic Geriatric Resource Program, the UCSF John A. Harford Center for Geriatric Excellence and the US Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Admin, Bureau of Health Professions (HRSA/BHPr), Grant Number UB4HP19046